Coronavirus Highlights: Italy reports 475 new virus deaths, highest one-day toll of any nation

Major Asian stock markets were higher Wednesday after Wall Street rebounded on President Donald Trump's promise of aid to get the U.S. economy through the coronavirus outbreak.

Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong all advanced. Australia's main index fell 5% and smaller Asian markets were mixed.

The White House proposal could approach $1 trillion in spending to ward off the pressure of business closures to contain the virus. The Federal Reserve announced more measures to keep financial markets operating.

Karnataka's Assembly, Vidhana Soudha, has been sanitised with the spraying of disinfectants, as a precautionary measure against Coronavirus.

Karnataka: Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru being sanitised with the spraying of disinfectants, as a precautionary measure against #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/QuPDPYN51y

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2020

The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 147 on Wednesday, according to the Union health ministry. This includes 130 active cases, 3 deaths and 14 patients who have been cured of Covid-19.

The epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak Wuhan city in China reported a single confirmed case for the second consecutive day on Tuesday even as 11 people died of the deadly disease in the country, taking the toll to 3,237, health officials said on Wednesday.

Wuhan had reported a single confirmed case on Monday as China began phased withdrawal of thousands of medical personnel deployed in the hard-hit Hubei province.

For the second day on Tuesday, the city reported only one new confirmed case.

BJP Member of Parliament Suresh Prabhu has been keeping himself under isolation at his residence since March 16. Tweeting about it, the lawmaker said that though his tests were fully normal, he still opted for self isolation.

Did #COVID&comprehensive checkups before going #G20SaudiArabia,checked there too&on arrival to India.Luckily all tests fully normal.Still opted for self isolation.Appeal to all travelling, cooperate with health authorities&follow all procedures,ensure safety of self &others.

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) March 16, 2020

One more person has tested positive for Coronavirus in Pune, said Naval Kishore Ram, District Magistrate of Pune, reports ANI.

The person has travel history to France and Netherlands. Total number of positive cases reaches 18 in Pune and 42 in Maharashtra.

Colombia's President Ivan Duque declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as the country steps up measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, including ordering the elderly to stay home from Friday until the end of May.

More than six million children in the largest US state of California are unlikely to return to school this academic year, Governor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday, urging families to expect a prolonged lock down over the coronavirus pandemic.

Currently 98.8 per cent of schools in the west-coast state are shut in a bid to slow the spread of the disease, with the remaining institutions in smaller rural districts expected to follow soon.

The Trump administration pressed on Tuesday for enactment of a $1 trillion stimulus package, possibly with $1,000 direct payments to individual Americans, to blunt the economic pain from a coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 100 people in the country, reports Reuters.

With cases of the respiratory illness reported in all 50 states and the total number of known U.S. infections surging past 6,400, millions of Americans hunkered down at home instead of commuting to work or going to school.

Novena services at St. Michael Church at Mumbai's Mahim have been suspended due to coronavirus threat.

S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday lowered India's economic growth forecast to 5.2 per cent for 2020, saying the global economy is entering a recession amid the coronavirus pandemic. The agency had earlier projected a growth rate of 5.7 per cent during the 2020 calendar.

Asia-Pacific economic growth in 2020 will more than halve to less than 3 per cent as the "global economy enters a recession", S&P said in a statement.

South Korea reported 93 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing its total infections to 8,413, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The daily tally is slightly up from 84 recorded on Tuesday but marked the fourth day in a row that the country has reported fewer than 100 new infections.

The US state of California has approved $1 billion in emergency funds and put the National Guard on alert to help deal with the coronavirus outbreak, reports news agency Reuters.

Authorizing the use of the $1billion fund, governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said the money would be used to increase hospital capacity, provide services to Californians isolating or quarantined at home and provide shelter for the homeless.

"This money will provide more hospital beds and medical equipment to help hospitals deal with the coming surge and it will help protect those who are most at risk. I am grateful to the legislature for their quick action," Newsom said in a written statement after signing the measure into law.

Lawmakers in California's legislature on Monday approved the bill, which appropriates $500 million from the state's general fund and makes an equal amount available if needed.

The embassy also said, "at this difficult time, we request all students to say no to panic and yes to precaution."

At this difficult time, we request all students to say no to panic and yes to precaution. (3/3) @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @DrSJaishankar @harshvshringla

— India in Italy (@IndiainItaly) March 17, 2020

Indian Embassy in Italy says it is doing all that is possible within its limited resources and despite the current lockdown, to support and assist more than 300 Indian students in Rome and nearby areas.

In a series of tweets, the embassy also assured the students that the Embassy is committed to ensuring their safe return.

Their swab tests have been taken over the weekend and reports are awaited. We have explained to them what the next steps would be. We assure the students that the Embassy is committed to ensuring their safe return. (2/3) @DrSJaishankar @MOS_MEA @MEAIndia @harshvshringla

— India in Italy (@IndiainItaly) March 17, 2020